New Zealand's islands moved two metres closer together by tremor
- 7 years ago
Hundreds of survivors stranded by a huge earthquake which struck New Zealand have been brought to Christchurch by naval vessel.
Around 450 tourists and locals from the small seaside town of Kaikoura were taken by HMNZS Canterbury to Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city.
Most tourists continued their journeys.
However, around 130 are being housed temporarily in Canterbury University’s student halls, according to local media.
Kaikoura
The fishing community and popular whale-watching base, ringed by steep mountains, had been completely cut off by large landslides that covered road and rail links.
Air Force helicopters joined a fleet of private helicopters that have ferried hundreds more people from the town to Christchurch over the last few days.
Workers cleared an emergency inland road into Kaikoura, allowing water and other supplies to be trucked in for the first time.
Helos from the #USSSampson arrive in #Kaikoura to assist in disaster relief operations. USNavy #EQNZ usembassynz PacificCommand pic.twitter.com/QpXskis4IK— Mark Gilbert (ambmarkgilbert) November 17, 2016
5000 litres of water was air dropped into Kaikoura this evening by the Defence Force pic.twitter.com/1OyCB1nXs3— Maja Burry (@MajaBurry) November 16, 2016
Waiau
Residents in the town of Waiau continue to clean up.
Many are having to deal with the stress of aftershocks.
Storms lashed the region on Thursday.
Seismologists are still recording hundreds of aftershocks. An estimated 2,000 have rattled the region since the initial tremor shook shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The earthquake
Two people were killed and dozens injured by the magnitude 7.8 quake.
Two almost-simultaneous tremors ruptured faultlines across the top of New Zealand’s South Island.
The timing of the quake – shortly after midnight on Sunday – combined with the epicentre being in a sparsely-populated region prevented a higher death toll, the authorities have said.
A tsunami alert that followed sent many rushing for higher ground before the threat was lowered.
Kaikoura coastline before and after the earthquake pic.twitter.com/nmV8KEnuug— Philip Fierlinger (@skyrize) November 17, 2016
Seabed lifted in #NewZealand during the #Kaikoura #earthquake. Via. lou_gordongreen & NZDefenceForce pic.twitter.com/SreHGPe0bT— Janine Krippner (@janinekrippner) November 14, 2016
The whole seabed raised out of the ground #kaikoura #eqnz #earthquakenz pic.twitter.com/CbUVW5YjX2— Lou (@lou_gordongreen) November 14, 2016
The cost
The quake’s cost could add up to almost eight billion euros.
The concern is that this could push the government’s budget back into deficit after two years of surpluses.
Prime Minister John Key said earlier in the week the damage bill would be around 1.3 billion euros. However, he cautioned this was an early estimate.
Finance Minister Bill English told parliament the damage was “relatively localised”.
In 2011, an earthquake in Christchurch,
Around 450 tourists and locals from the small seaside town of Kaikoura were taken by HMNZS Canterbury to Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city.
Most tourists continued their journeys.
However, around 130 are being housed temporarily in Canterbury University’s student halls, according to local media.
Kaikoura
The fishing community and popular whale-watching base, ringed by steep mountains, had been completely cut off by large landslides that covered road and rail links.
Air Force helicopters joined a fleet of private helicopters that have ferried hundreds more people from the town to Christchurch over the last few days.
Workers cleared an emergency inland road into Kaikoura, allowing water and other supplies to be trucked in for the first time.
Helos from the #USSSampson arrive in #Kaikoura to assist in disaster relief operations. USNavy #EQNZ usembassynz PacificCommand pic.twitter.com/QpXskis4IK— Mark Gilbert (ambmarkgilbert) November 17, 2016
5000 litres of water was air dropped into Kaikoura this evening by the Defence Force pic.twitter.com/1OyCB1nXs3— Maja Burry (@MajaBurry) November 16, 2016
Waiau
Residents in the town of Waiau continue to clean up.
Many are having to deal with the stress of aftershocks.
Storms lashed the region on Thursday.
Seismologists are still recording hundreds of aftershocks. An estimated 2,000 have rattled the region since the initial tremor shook shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The earthquake
Two people were killed and dozens injured by the magnitude 7.8 quake.
Two almost-simultaneous tremors ruptured faultlines across the top of New Zealand’s South Island.
The timing of the quake – shortly after midnight on Sunday – combined with the epicentre being in a sparsely-populated region prevented a higher death toll, the authorities have said.
A tsunami alert that followed sent many rushing for higher ground before the threat was lowered.
Kaikoura coastline before and after the earthquake pic.twitter.com/nmV8KEnuug— Philip Fierlinger (@skyrize) November 17, 2016
Seabed lifted in #NewZealand during the #Kaikoura #earthquake. Via. lou_gordongreen & NZDefenceForce pic.twitter.com/SreHGPe0bT— Janine Krippner (@janinekrippner) November 14, 2016
The whole seabed raised out of the ground #kaikoura #eqnz #earthquakenz pic.twitter.com/CbUVW5YjX2— Lou (@lou_gordongreen) November 14, 2016
The cost
The quake’s cost could add up to almost eight billion euros.
The concern is that this could push the government’s budget back into deficit after two years of surpluses.
Prime Minister John Key said earlier in the week the damage bill would be around 1.3 billion euros. However, he cautioned this was an early estimate.
Finance Minister Bill English told parliament the damage was “relatively localised”.
In 2011, an earthquake in Christchurch,